House Painting 101: 99-Word Flash Fiction

This week’s prompt over at the Carrot Ranch (www.carrotranch.com) was to write a flash piece about painting in 99 words (no more, no less). This is my late entry.

House Painting 101

Julia always liked bold, bright colors, and she was tired of having walls of cream, beige, or off-white year after year. Just this once, she and her husband picked jewel tone colors for their new home.

The living room was now midnight blue; the kitchen, burgundy, and the bedrooms, cypress green; even the den was turquoise. Still, the baseboards were painted white to match the ceilings.

Their friends and family were shocked by the boldness. “How will you ever be able cover over the paint? If you decide to sell the house?”

“We won’t,” they said. “Our heirs will.”

Nancy Brady, 2019

See all the other colorful, paint splattered entries at http://www.carrotranch.com

 

Flash: Haiku

A few haiku about Flash:

early morning

before the alarm

the cat

~Hedgerow #24

empty nesters

still picking up toys,

now the cat’s

~Bottlerockets #34, February 2016

no fear…

blue jays nab peanuts

despite the cat

~Brass Bell, February 2017

rainy day…

the cat’s purr

a lullaby

~Ito-en Haiku…submission finalist, August 2018

Nancy Brady, 2019

 

 

The Time Between: 99-Word Flash Fiction

This week’s prompt at Carrot Ranch (www.carrotranch.com) was to write about waiting or the effect of waiting in 99 words (no more, no less). Per usual, I procrastinated, but finally put some words together.

The Time Between

She was waiting in the airport, sitting in those uncomfortable chairs. She was waiting to board the plane that would take her away from the life she’d known.

No one had ever told her that most of her life would be spent waiting. Waiting for appointments, waiting for the mail, waiting for her children to be born, her grandchildren to be born…just waiting, waiting, waiting.

And in that waiting, she began to see her life unfold, a little at a time. She saw her mistakes, her triumphs, and all her losses. Her days waning, she finally lived without regret.

Nancy Brady, 2019

Please don’t wait; head over to Carrot Ranch to see all the entries.

A Stitch in Time: 99 Word Flash Fiction

This week’s prompt over at Carrot Ranch was to write a 99-word (no more, no less) flash fiction on the theme of many hands and to go where the prompt leads. This is my take on the prompt, but all of the stories can be found at http://www.carrotranch.com

A Stitch in Time

Julia, Mary, Elizabeth, Susannah, and a few others from the group were discussing the books they were reading. There was also a bit of gossip going on across the table. The air was filled with their chatter, and laughter broke out here and there.

Still, that did not deter Julia and her friends from their mission. With so many hands to stitch the pieces of fabric together, they were making another quilt for the veteran’s home. What once was their monthly quilting bee for themselves had become a way to give back to those who had served their country.

Nancy Brady, 2019

Quilting (quilting bees) has always fascinated me. I made a very small quilt during a library program as well as stitched a quilt piece for a Girl Scouts badge on needlework. I have to say that it was one of the badges I was most proud to wear.

Not only did I learn a bit about quilting, but I also learned to needlepoint, thanks to our troop leader, Mrs. MacPherson. My knowledge of embroidery stitches expanded, too. I don’t know if little girls still learn to embroider, but it was one activity I enjoyed during my youth.

I don’t do as much needlework as I used to, but sometimes I still get out the embroidery hoop for a project. And, of course, I still have to complete a needlepoint canvas of a swan that I started way-back-when. Someday…

 

Narration

Talking to oneself…what an awesome concept! Wise words from a fellow writer, Barbara, otherwise known as Keyboard Maven. Because I talk to myself all the time, I can relate to this. Can you?

Barbara Froman

René Magritte, Le Principe Du Plaisir, 1937

I talk to myself. When I shop, cook, read, practice (sometimes), go for long walks—I imagine and comment often unconsciously, no matter who’s around. And I always write out loud…always.

It’s not enough for me to see characters talk to each other on the page, express themselves through inner monologues, or confess their longings in letters; I have to hear them do it. Nothing about them or their situation feels concrete until my ear can process their voices. The same is true for an objective narrator. I have to hear the narration in order to see the scene and action.

I started talking to myself when I started reading, an offshoot, I suppose, of being read to by my parents. When I started school, I read everything I needed to learn aloud; and when I got older, I learned to keep my…

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Haiku Dialogue: Weathered wall

This week’s theme at the Haiku Foundation’s Haiku Dialogue was weathered wall, and this pedometer geek writer was gratified that the editor of the column, Craig Kittner, chose the haiku I submitted.

weathered fence

apple blossoms poke

through the slats

Nancy Brady, 2019

 

See all the haiku on this theme on the Haiku Foundation’s website and read some excellent haiku on the theme.

 

 

 

Haiku Dialogue: Shiny instrument

This week’s Haiku Dialogue at The Haiku Foundation (thehaikufoundation.org) had a theme of shiny instrument.

My haiku:

first year resident…

a blood droplet

on her new scalpel

~Nancy Brady, 2019

Read all of them including commentary by Craig Kittner and others at thehaikufoundation.org as there are some really excellent ones there.